WGVU TV and Radio

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye...

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Carl Kasell
After 30 years of waking up at 1:05 a.m. to anchor the top of the hour newscast during Morning Edition, Carl KasellWait Wait.. Don't Tell Me!, the show that turned him from a newsman into a rock star! has decided the time has come to sleep in. He will leave his newscast post at the end of this year... but happily for all of us he isn't going far. Carl will continue to be the Official Judge and Scorekeeper for

Carl has raised more than a generation of listeners with his calm and authoritative newscast and has been the first voice many people heard each day. He also has been a teacher and role model for NPR newscasters... not only because of his skill and experience, but also because of his kindness, integrity, and professionalism.

Carl has walked into the newscast booth tens of thousands of times during his tenure. He was there the day that Iranian students took over the American Embassy in 1979... he was there when the Berlin wall fell in 1989 and he was there again when two jetliners slammed into the World Trade Towers in 2001. And he's been there every week since.

Carl first walked through the doors of NPR in 1975 as a part-time newscaster, and was on the air in November 1979 at the inception of Morning Edition. In 1995, he hosted Early Morning Edition, which eventually led to Morning Edition's early start time of 5 a.m. eastern. Carl is a proud member of the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame and a recipient of several major broadcast awards, including a Peabody which he shares with Morning Edition and another he shares with Wait Wait.

Carl Kasell's last newscast will be on Wednesday, December 30.

Bill Moyers Journal and NOW on PBS
Bill Moyers announced that he will retire his weekly PBS public affairs series, Bill Moyers Journal, on April 30, 2010. In the New York Times, the veteran journalist is quoted as saying "I am 75 years old" and "I feel it's time." Moyers says he is not necesarily leaving the TV business, but he has no projects planned at the moment.

Also coming to an end on PBS on April 30: the series Now on PBS. In a statement, PBS said it was undergoing a "review and reinvention" of its news and public affairs lineup. New plans will be announced in January.

Life Focus receives Emmy Award

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Life Focus Productions is proud to announce that it has been presented with the distinct honor of the Emmy award from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a special WYCC airing of its production of A New Kind of Normal, the first episode in the second season of the Life Focus series.

Executive Producer Mona Hennein, Producers Michelle Jahnke and Marilyn Heisler, Host Dan Meyer, and Reporter Ken Hulme were recognized for an outstanding achievement in informational programming. This remarkable achievement affirms NETA's continued distribution of Life Focus and represents a proud moment for presenting station WGVU of Grand Rapids, MI.

Life Focus' excellent quality in both content and production rose above dozens of other applicants and six other nominees. Each of Life Focus' two seasons have been nominated, and this marks the first Emmy award win for this groundbreaking television program.

Nightly Business Report Anchor and Founder receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:26:00 +0000

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) will present this year's Lifetime Achievement Award in Business & Financial Reporting to Paul Kangas, Anchor and Financial Commentator for PBS' Nightly Business Report, and Linda O'Bryon, the founder of the pioneering business news broadcast and now Chief Content Officer of Northern California Public Broadcasting. The awards will be presented at the 7th Annual Emmy® Awards for Business & Financial Reporting, to be held Monday, December 7 at Fordham University in New York City.

"As television's first daily broadcast devoted to economic news, Nightly Business Report broke new ground when it launched over thirty years ago" said Bill Small, Chairman of the News & Documentary Emmy Awards. "Linda O'Bryon led a small group to create the show, and under her stewardship it became one of the most influential business news broadcasts on television. Longtime anchor and financial commentator Paul Kangas was also present at the creation, and his deep knowledge of the financial markets and skill in the anchor chair has been equally responsible for the show's success. We are proud to honor them both with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award."

"At a time when credible business journalism is more critical than ever, PBS is very proud to serve as the home of Nightly Business Report," said Paula A. Kerger, PBS's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Paul Kangas and Linda O'Bryon have been instrumental in shaping the program during its 30-year history, setting high standards that distinguish 'NBR' from all its commercial competitors. This high honor is well deserved."

"One of the things I most admire about Linda and Paul is the integrity that they brought to this program," said Rodney Ward, Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of Nightly Business Report. "Fair and balanced really meant something to them as they approached our subject matter. They were not afraid to ask tough questions. They were not afraid to challenge assumptions or long held views. They did not fawn over CEO's or politicians. They were not cheerleaders. They did not seek to become a part of the game. Their only goal was to report the news and to inform the viewer to the best of their ability."

Known for his fast-paced delivery, sharp wit and encyclopedic knowledge of the financial markets, Paul Kangas was a South Florida stock broker when he joined Nightly Business Report as a stock commentator in 1979. In 1990 he became the show's co-anchor. Kangas has reported on all of the major financial events of the last three decades, from market bubbles to bull runs to bear runs to financial scandals. Dubbed "the Walter Cronkite of business broadcasting," Kangas served as the reasoned voice of calm after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and other major news events. In addition to his skill as an anchor, Kangas has won high praise for his coverage of the stock market. In 2003 he received a Financial Writers and Editors Award from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University for his signature segment "Stocks in the News". Kangas recently announced that he will leave his anchor position at the end of 2009, though he plans to stay active in the financial world.

Linda O'Bryon spearheaded the creation of Nightly Business Report in 1979, when she was serving as news director at South Florida public television station WPBT. NBR was television's first nightly business news program, and under O'Bryon's stewardship became the most-watched evening business news program, distributed nationally by PBS on more than 250 stations. When NBR was launched she both managed the program and served as its co-anchor. In addition O'Bryon served as senior vice president and general manager of NBR enterprises, the operating division of public station WPBT in Miami, where she orchestrated worldwide distribution and content partnerships that have helped shape NBR into an international news force around the world. O'Bryon has reported nationally and internationally and has interviewed numerous world leaders, including Warren Buffet, Steve Forbes, Bill Gates, Jack Welch and former President Jimmy Carter. She has received numerous honors, including being named one of the 20^th century's Top 10 Business News Luminaries by TJFR. O'Bryon left NBR in 2006 to become Chief Content Officer of KQED/Northern California Public Broadcasting.

The Emmy Awards for Business & Financial Reporting recognize outstanding achievement in business & financial reporting telecast from July 1, 2008 thru June 30, 2009.

Sesame Street Turns 40!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Starting Tuesday, November 10 (the anniversary of the very first broadcast!) at 10 a.m., Sesame Street celebrates 40 years of making the world a little BRIGHTER... FUNNIER... and FURRIER!

We'll get you started with 40 Things You Didn't Know About Sesame Street:

1. Four First Ladies have visited Sesame Street: Barbara Bush, Hilary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

2. Although Big Bird is a curious 6-year old and Oscar is a Grouch, the two are identical on the inside. At age 75, Carroll Spinney has been both characters since 1969.

3. Snuffleupagus is a Pachyderm who lives on Sesame Street. While it is thought that he was invisible, he has always lived on Sesame Street—he just has inconvenient timing.

4. A Birdseed Milkshake at Hooper’s Store cost $.20 in 1969 and costs $2.99 now.

5. Sesame Street has a subway stop that is powered by imagination, and one can get there by taking the “A, B, 1 or 2” trains. The actual studio for Sesame Street is in Astoria, Queens. The NYC N or R subway trains are the best bet.

6. Why the name Sesame Street? After a long search for a catchy name, one of the show’s writers suggested “Sesame Street.” The word “sesame,” an allusion to the fabled command from The Arabian Nights, “Open, Sesame!,” suggested excitement and adventure. Since the show was set in an urban street scene, “Sesame Street” seemed an ideal combination.

7. It takes two puppeteers to manipulate Ernie, Rosita, The Count, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Telly Monster and Snuffleupagus, while Big Bird, who is 8’ 2” tall, only requires one.

8. Elmo began his life on Sesame Street as a nameless Anything Muppet, before becoming the 3 1/2 year old furry red monster that has tickled millions of children of all ages. Kevin Clash first donned Elmo in 1984. 25 years later, Elmo is still 3 1/2 years-old.

9. James Earl Jones was the first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street.

10. Cookie Monster used to have pointy teeth.

11. Ernie is the only Sesame Street Muppet to have a built-in smile.

12. Oscar was just as grouchy in 1969 as he is today. His first words on the show were “Don’t bang on my can! Go away.”

13. Two cast members have had their real-life children portray their TV children. Gabriella is Sonia Manzano’s daughter and she played “Gabi,” “Maria” and “Luis’,” daughter, as a child. Roscoe Orman’s son, Miles, also portrayed “Miles,” “Gordon” and “Susan’s,” adopted son when he was younger.

14. Bert has more than 368 bottle caps in his collection.

15. Mr. Hooper’s first name was Harold.

16. Oscar the Grouch was the color orange in season 1.

17. Currently, there are nine Elmo puppets, including a remote controlled version, used for various purposes.

18. Elmo in South Africa is named Neno while Elmo in Mexico is named Elmo.

19. Cameraman Frankie Biando has been filming Sesame Street since the first season and is still operates Camera 1 on today’s set.

20. While some characters have puppeteer understudies, for the most part, only one puppeteer performs each Sesame Street Muppet.

21. There are over 20 original and localized co-productions of Sesame Street including Galli Galli Sim Sim in India, Takalani Sesame in South Africa, Hikayat Simsim in Jordan and Plaza Sésamo in Mexico. Sesame content can be watched in over 140 countries around the globe.

22. Sesame Workshop conducts its global operations from 1 Lincoln Plaza in New York City.

23. Sesame Street has won 122 Emmys to date and a recent Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award - the most for any television show in history.

24. Fran Brill, a veteran stage and film actress, was the first female puppeteer to work on Sesame Street. Brill was personally trained by legendary puppeteers Frank Oz and Jim Henson.

25. In 2006, Abby Cadabby moved to the Sesame Street neighborhood as a pink fairy-in-training. She was designed to inspire young girls and demonstrate positive female relationships. She was the first new female lead character added to Sesame Street in 13 years.

26. All of the Sesame Street Muppets have four fingers, except Cookie Monster, who has five.

27. Sesame Street’s original studio was the 81st Street Second Stage / Teletape studio. The game show Beat the Clock was moved out of the space to make room for the street set.

28. At the end of Sesame Street’s 40th season, 4212 episodes will have aired.

29. Sesame Street has won nine Grammy Awards.

30. Roscoe Orman is the third actor to portray Gordon and he joined the cast in season 5.

31. Elmo is the only puppet in history to have testified before Congress.

32. Sesame Street’s current Executive Producer, Carol-Lynn Parente, started her career at Sesame Workshop as a production assistant and rose all the way to the top.

33. There have been over 440 celebrity visitors to Sesame Street.

34. Big Bird is covered with approximately six thousand dyed North American turkey, coq, ostrich and hackle feathers.

35. Carroll Spinney still uses the same Oscar the Grouch puppet from Sesame Street’s second season.

36. While in 1969, the fabric for Bert and Ernie’s sweaters could be purchased at a store - their sweaters now have to be hand knit to match their original pattern.

37. Sesame Workshop has over 1000 licensees who create and sell Sesame Street products around the world.

38. As a non-profit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop’s educational research and creative content for children around the world.

39. The Jim Henson Company has built over 5000 puppets for Sesame Street over the past 40 years.

40. Sesame Street is the longest running children’s show and still produces new episodes every year!

Brand New Super WHY Coming to WGVU TV!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 +0000

This November, tune in to WGVU TV weekdays at 9 a.m.
for new episodes of Super WHY!

November 9: Hansel and Gretel: A Healthy Adventure
Red and her friends are having a picnic in the park, but she has no energy to join in the fun. Could it have something to do with her unhealthy snack choices? Super Why and his friends head into the story of Hansel and Gretel to meet the equally tired and grouchy witch.

November 10: Cinderella: The Prince's Side of the Story
Red and Little Boy Blue are playing some music together when Little Boy Blue suddenly disappears! This is just like when Cinderella left the ball without finishing her dance. To solve the mystery, Super Why and his friends soar into Cinderella's fairytale once again, and this time they talk to the prince!

November 11: The Prince and the Pauper
Whyatt thinks his house is too loud while Princess Pea believes her home is too quiet! Would the friends be better-off if they switched places? To look for a solution, Super Why and his friends encounter two friends just as they are about to switch houses.

November 12: The Ugly Duckling: Becoming a Swan

Pig is too big for his bed and his sneakers are pinching his feet - what is going on? The superhero readers zoom into the story of The Ugly Duckling: Becoming a Swan, and meet a little guy who is experiencing growing pains of his own.

November 25*: The Nutcracker

Princess Pea doesn't know what to do about her friend Sleeping Beauty who is very, very grumpy! Super Why and his friends dance their way into the story of The Nutcracker, accompanied by Tchaikovsky's memorable music, to find out why the Mouse King is so cranky and give an innovative twist to the holiday classic.

*repeats throughout the holiday season!

The Botany of Desire

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Tune in to WGVU TV
Wednesday, October 28 at 8 p.m.

Every schoolchild learns about the mutually beneficial dance of honeybees and flowers: to make their honey, the bees collect nectar, and in the process spread pollen, which contains the flowers' genes. The Botany of Desire proposes that people and domesticated plants have formed a similarly reciprocal relationship. "We don't give nearly enough credit to plants," says best-selling author Michael Pollan, whose book of the same name is the inspiration for the program. "They've been working on us - they've been using us - for their own purposes."

The Botany of Desire examines this unique relationship through the stories of four familiar species, telling how each evolved to satisfy one of our most basic yearnings. Linking our fundamental desires for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control with the plants that gratify them - the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato - The Botany of Desire shows that we humans are intricately woven into the web of nature, not standing outside it.

"The Botany of Desire is a perfect story for television," says producer/director Michael Schwarz. "It takes a world we thought we knew, and allows us to see it in an entirely new way." Shot in stunning high definition photography, the program begins with Michael Pollan in a California garden and sets off to roam the world: from the potato fields of Idaho and Peru to the apple orchards of New England; from a medical marijuana hot house to the tulip mecca of Amsterdam, where in 1637, one Dutchman, crazed with "tulip mania," paid as much for a single tulip bulb as the going price for a town house. How could flowers, with no real practical value to humans, become so desperately desired that they drove many to financial ruin?

The Botany of Desire argues that the answer lies in the powerful but often overlooked relationship between people and plants. With Pollan as our on-screen guide to this frankly sensuous natural world, The Botany of Desire explores the dance of domestication between humans and plants. Through the history of these four familiar plants, the film seeks to answer the question: Who has really been domesticating whom?

Sid the Science Kid Gets a Flu Shot!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Everyone’s favorite preschool scientist, Sid, star of Sid the Science Kid, is hearing a lot of talk this fall about how to stay healthy, which leads him to ask lots of questions about what can make a person sick and what he can do to keep from getting sick. In the new special episode “Getting a Shot: You Can Do It!” from the Emmy®-nominated series, Sid and his friends will learn the basic science behind germs, viruses and vaccines using age-appropriate vocabulary and scientific concepts that have become a hallmark of the series.

The episode premieres on WGVU TV on Monday, October 26 at 8:30 a.m.

It’s vaccination day at Sid’s school, and Sid and his friends are a little apprehensive about getting a shot. Thankfully, a very special nurse will be giving the kids their vaccination—Sid’s Grandma! Throughout the special episode, Grandma, Teacher Susie, Mom and Dad all do their part to make vaccination day a fun learning experience filled with music, games and lots of laughs.

“Sid the Science Kid explores the science behind the everyday experiences of a preschooler and we know that getting a shot can be scary for many children,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “This special episode is an opportunity for us to help kids understand why they are getting a shot while providing parents and caregivers with helpful resources to handle this important issue.”

The special episode is supported by online games, activities and resources for kids, parents and educators. At PBSKIDS.org/sid, kids can learn about germs, illness and getting shots through age-appropriate activities and videos. For parents and caregivers, PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org) features resources to help children cope with illness and overcome fears they may face about going to the doctor. PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org) will host a PBS Teachers live Webinar for educators about this episode and how teachers can help children stay healthy at school.

In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Here's a clip from last night's Fiesta Latina performance, from CNN:

VIDEO

The President, the First Lady and even the Obama daughters reveled in the polyglot pop of Gloria Estefan, the tender balladry of guitarist José Feliciano and the alchemical rock of Los Lobos. Percussionist Sheila E. held it all together, as the program's musical director and leader of the house band. With the illuminated South Facade at her back, she joined Estefan for the opening number, "No Llores" ("Don't Cry"), whacking her bedazzled timbales while Feliciano strummed along.

See the entire program Sunday, October 18 at 12:30 p.m. on WGVU TV.

PBS' Nightly Business Report and Kiplinger's Personal Finance Partner for Series on Investor Psychology

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:31:00 +0000

"Your Mind & Your Money"

Begins October 19 at 6:30 p.m. on WGVU TV

Why is it that people often make major financial decisions on the basis of "gut feelings" rather than logic? And why do investors recklessly buy into market bubbles-even when they know that prices are far out of line? PBS' Nightly Business Report and Kiplinger's Personal Finance will examine investor psychology in the upcoming series "Your Mind & Your Money" beginning Monday, October 19.

The series, airing twice monthly on NBR, with companion articles in Kiplinger's Personal Finance and at www.Kiplinger.com, will look at findings from recent studies in the fields of behavioral finance and neuroeconomics. Special series reporter Dan Grech will interview leading researchers and experts.

The first report in the series will feature Daniel Kahneman, the psychologist and winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics (among other things, Kahneman showed that the psychological pain of losing money far outweighs the joy that results from financial gains). The series will also feature Jonathan Cohen, a neuroscientist at Princeton University who believes that the tendency of many people to spend for today rather than save for tomorrow is actually "hard-wired" into their brains.

On the following Monday, October 26, the series will continue with an interview with behavioral finance pioneer Richard Thaler. A professor at the University of Chicago, Thaler was the first to connect Kahneman's findings to financial decision-making processes.

Other segments in the series will delve into how investors may be influenced by such matters as "herding" (the tendency to follow the crowd), fear of the unknown, and perceptions of patterns that don't exist. Additional information and resources for each of the subjects covered will be available on the "Your Mind & Your Money" section of NBR's website (www.pbs.org/nbr).

""Your Mind & Your Money" will do more than just report the findings of academic studies," said NBR Executive Editor Rodney Ward. "This series will show investors how to apply the lessons of behavioral finance to better understand their own impulses and to improve their own decision-making."

"At Kiplinger's Personal Finance, we have been helping our readers invest to reach their financial goals for more than 60 years," said Kiplinger's Editorial Director Kevin McCormally. "We are pleased to join Nightly Business Report to help Americans understand and embrace their emotions and predilections - and the important roles they play in investment decisions."

50 Great Voices: Send In Your Nominations

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:41:00 +0000

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 of the great voices in recorded history. With the series, they're hoping to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. Through archival material, interviews and music, NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered will spend the year delving into the lives and legacies of these voices. But whose voices will they be?

Now through October 16, tell NPR who in the whole world possesses the most beautiful, singular voice you have ever heard. Leave your picks, along with a sentence defending each choice and a link to an audio clip if possible, HERE, or email GreatVoices@npr.org.

Read more HERE.

Share a Play Date with Sid!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:41:00 +0000

October 12 - 16 at 8:30 a.m. on WGVU TV, Sid the Science Kid brings a special week of programming to PBS KIDS, focusing on play dates. Each day's episode will feature Sid and his friend Gabriela getting together at Sid's house for a super schmooper science play date.

Visit pbskids.org/sidthesciencekid for activities that parents and caregivers can do to introduce science concepts during their own play dates.

WGVU 2 to Air H1N1 Programs on October 12

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

On Monday, October 12 at 8 p.m., Second Opinion offers a special edition on the H1N1 flu virus. The program will be a town meeting style format, with a panel of national experts who will address issues such as symptoms, prevention,vaccinations, public health, available resources, and local and national response. A live studio audience as well as videotaped questions from around the country provide viewer interaction with the panel.

This program will be followed by a WGVU Newsmakers special on H1N1, previously recorded.

Both programs will repeat on WGVU 2 that night, starting at 1 a.m.

Arthur Returns with New Episodes and a Special Guest - Lance Armstrong!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:34:00 +0000

For twelve years, Arthur has helped children and families talk about important issues—from asthma, to dyslexia, to the death of a pet. Now, in its 13th Season, the series once again takes on a difficult topic that impacts kids and their parents in a profound way—cancer. Lance Armstrong returns to Elwood City for the two-part episode “The Great MacGrady,” about an illness that affects the lives of so many children. The special story is part of five new episodes premiering Monday, October 12 on PBS KIDS GO!

When Lakewood Elementary’s beloved lunch lady Mrs. MacGrady is diagnosed with cancer, Arthur and his friends all react differently to the news—Arthur and D.W. rush to her side with heaps of chicken soup and stuffed animals, Muffy tries to pretend that nothing in her life has changed, and Francine is so upset she can’t even bring herself to visit Mrs. MacGrady. In this moving episode, both parents and kids learn how they can come together to support Mrs. MacGrady and each other—and Lance Armstrong makes a special appearance to show Francine and the Elwood City residents how they can take a stand, or ride a bike, for cancer survivors.

“Cancer affects nearly everyone in some way,” said Executive Producer Jacqui Deegan. “We hope that this two-part episode will empower kids, families and caregivers to talk about all the feelings that can come up when a loved one has cancer, and how they can work together and remain positive and hopeful through difficult times.”

Kicking off the season, Academy Award-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman lends his voice as director Will Toffman, in “No Acting Please,” a unique premiere episode about theater and the joy of the performing arts. When Fern lands a role in the Elwood City community production of “It Began With a Whistle,” she fears she’s not talented enough to be a star actress. But Will Toffman teaches Fern how to have fun, be herself and truly shine.

Additional episodes premiering this fall include “Prunella and the Disappointing Ending;” Prunella and Marina are thrilled that the latest volume of the Henry Screever series, The Knights of the Boillabiasse, is finally out. The two friends immediately begin competing to see who can finish the book the fastest, but quickly learn that speed-reading doesn’t always pay off. Then, in “MacFrensky,” when Francine and Brain are locked in a stiff competition to win student of the month, Muffy talks Francine into “borrowing” Buster’s toy and letting Brain take the blame for it. As the lies grow and the prize gets closer, however, Francine's guilt increases. Can she come clean and wash her hands of this dastardly deed? Finally, in “Brain Gets Hooked,” Brain is hooked on the latest tween reality show “Junior Island.” When he starts to ignore his friends and his schoolwork, he knows he’s got a problem. But what can he do to break the addiction?

Tune-in for these episodes and more when the all-new Season of Arthur premieres Monday, October 12 at 7 a.m. & 4 p.m. on WGVU TV!

Catch Austin City Limits Online!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Season 35 of Austin City Limits will be available for online streaming at http://video.pbs.org. Each episode will be available the day after its national broadcast premiere on PBS, according to the schedule on the homepage of the ACL website.

Dave Matthews Band is live now, and Ben Harper and Relentless 7 follow next week! Catch the series Saturday nights at 9 p.m. on WGVU 2 and at 11 p.m. on WGVU HD.

New PBS Kids iPhone Apps!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Hey scientists - now you can have a microphone just like Sid the Science Kid!

In each episode of Sid the Science Kid, the popular preschool television series airing daily on PBS KIDS, Sid uses his trusty toy microphone to share his questions and ideas. Now all of Sid's friends at home can do the same in real life with the help of an easy-to-use iPhone app. The app is compatible with iPhone and iPod touch and is available FREE through iTunes!

This simple, on screen app allows kids to record their own voices or other sounds, for up to 20 seconds, and then play them back. Even the youngest kids can interact with the buttons to make laughs, applause and animal sounds.

The app can help kids identify the qualities and sources of sound by experimenting with sounds that are quiet or loud, changing the pitch of their voice, or recording things of various distances to see how that sounds.

Download the Sid the Science Kid App now!

Or, you can Build a Word with WordWorld! Children will watch spellbound as the letters D-O-G transform into Dog and a lovable WordFriend jumps to life. Words magically morph into animated WordFriends Dog, Duck, Pig, Ant, Frog, Sheep, Bug, Cow, Cat and Bee, engaging children to spell and read.

The app is now available in the iTunes store for $2.99.

This Old House Celebrates 30 Years!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:10:00 +0000

It's been three decades since This Old House began giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the secrets of home renovation. In honor of its 30th anniversary, the crew will focus on two interesting projects in the Boston area, the place where the show first got its start. New episodes will follow the revival of a foreclosed and vacant 1870s-era Second Empire in Roxbury, an inner-city neighborhood, and the modest renovation of a 1914 Dutch Colonial in Newton Centre, a small town just west of the city.

The new season begins with a modest renovation in Newton Centre over 16 episodes. Homeowners Bill and Gillian Pierce purchased the property in 2004, and though they knew the home would need renovations, the changes weren't financially feasible right away. Instead, the couple wisely spent the last few years saving money and planning. Now, with the help of the This Old House crew, the family is adding 330-sq.-ft. over two floors and providing updated amenities that are respectful of the existing house's character. With a number of areas to address and a fixed budget, the family may face tough decisions along the way in order to stay on target. Tune in to find out whether the Pierce's can ultimately afford to do everything on their wish list.

And on Ask This Old House, the experts are once again traveling the country to help homeowners tackle everyday home repairs and improvements. Throughout the 26 new episodes, the crew will make house calls in Baltimore, Detroit, Tampa, Houston, and of course, Boston.

New episodes start Thursday, October 8 at 9 p.m. on WGVU TV!

Yoopers on NPR!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:57:00 +0000

Tune in to Weekend Edition on Sunday, September 27, 8 - 10 a.m. on WGVU FM 88.5/95.3 as host Liane Hansen shares stories from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

From pasties to speedskating, it's Yooper Sunday on Weekend Edition!

'The National Parks': See the film, volunteer and get in free

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:03:00 +0000

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

Ken Burns did it for the Civil War, baseball and jazz. And many are betting his latest project will heighten the profile of the national parks, too.

Even before the filmmaker's The National Parks: America's Best Idea hits the airwaves on September 27, the 12-hour series is generating buzz, thanks to heavy promotion and its tie-in with several high-profile events.

On September 26, National Public Lands Day, a number of national parks will screen previews of Burns' film. Admission to all 391 national parks and public lands overseen by seven other federal agencies is free that day. And visitors who participate in volunteer projects will receive a voucher for admission to the park of their choice, valid for a year.

Read the full article HERE.

StoryCorps oral history project comes to Grand Rapids, in search of our stories

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:50:00 +0000

By Kyla King, The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — When Anna Armstrong sits down to record her tale as part of a national oral history project called StoryCorps, she hopes future generations will find inspiration and strength in the close bond her family has maintained as her oldest grandchild struggles with a rare kidney disease. The Belding resident is just one of many area residents who will share their history with StoryCorps, the nation’s largest oral history project, which arrives in Grand Rapids this week.

Since 2003, more than 50,000 people have shared their life stories, recorded for StoryCorps and preserved at the Library of Congress. A mobile booth will be in downtown Grand Rapids from Thursday through Oct. 17, recording stories by appointment outside the Public Museum.

“This is a chance to leave a legacy,” said StoryCorps spokeswoman Sacha Evans. “There are a lot of stories about war, a lot of people want to interview a grandparent, or talk about their proudest moments, or what they want to be remembered for.”

Participants are prepped for the 40-minute conversation with suggested questions that elicit open-ended inquires and thoughtful responses between people who know each other, Evans said.

To prepare for her time, Armstrong last weekend with her daughter, Jennifer Murray, and her grandson, Christopher Parm, went over questions they will ask each other during their interview, scheduled for Thursday.

Parm, 18, has battled a rare kidney disease that has led to two transplants and frequent infections that threaten his quality of life, Armstrong said.

His health issues have been trying for her daughter and the rest of the family, she said. But it also has brought them closer and given them a sense of hope, Armstrong said.

“We’ve got three generations and it’s been a hard time, but we’ve always been able to manage, even though it hasn’t always been positive for Christopher,” the 55-year-old said. “I think one of the things we want to get across is a sense of family and that, no matter what happens in life, there’s a continuance.”

Armstrong, who was born in southeast Michigan but has lived most of her life on the west side of the state, said she has followed StoryCorps since hearing about it on a public radio station in 2007.

“The idea of recording little pieces of history just really interested me,” she said.

The project has made stops in all 50 states, but has never been to Grand Rapids, Evans said.

Though anyone is welcome to participate, Evans said organizers try to reach out to a few individuals who reflect the character of each city. In this case, they contacted former auto workers who were featured in newspaper articles about plant closings.

“It’s about capturing America and what’s happening at any given time,” Evans said.

How to share the stories of your life when StoryCorps comes to Grand Rapids

Reservations are still open - more slots open on Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m.

Between the Lions Kicks off a New Season on September 21!

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:13:00 +0000

New episodes air every Monday at 6 a.m. and repeat Fridays at 6 a.m. on WGVU TV

Ten new episodes follow Theo, Cleo, Lionel and Leona as they break out of the library and travel - from the Island of Shazam, to Chinatown, New York, to the rivers of Mississippi, and the mountains of Alaska - on literacy-infused adventures. Shot for the first time in HD, they also feature new characters (including the Beetles, Hip-Hoppopotamus and Rhymocerus), new songs and 20 children's books and original stories that help to fulfill the show's mission to get kids "wild about reading."

As always, each episode takes an interactive approach to reading by encouraging children to think about the phonic elements, vocabulary and grammar that make up a story. This method, combined with the songs and adventures of the lion cubs, helps children gain the knowledge and
confidence they need to master reading! In fact, research studies in Kansas, New Mexico and Mississippi proved that young students who watch Between the Lions increased their literacy skills compared to those not exposed to the series.

Who's Your Favorite Member of the Electric Crew?

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Now through September 25, kids can vote for their favorite Electric Company cast member - Lisa, Keith, Jessica or Hector! The winner will star in a week's worth of episodes, airing October 12 - 16.

Click HERE to cast your vote!

Amazon Road on NPR - September 14 - 17

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Amazon Road: The Interoceanic Highway

All Things Considered, Monday, September 14
When completed, the Interoceanic Highway will stretch across South America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, creating an overland trade route to Asia for economic giant Brazil. The last leg of the road is being finished now in Peru, and, as NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports, is causing a great deal of controversy. Its route takes it right through the heart of the Peruvian Amazon - one of the most biodiverse places in the world.

Amazon Road: Gold Rush
All Things Considered, Tuesday, September 15
Record level gold prices are creating a gold rush in Peru, and the country's illegal alluvial mines are growing ever larger. To find enough gold to make a plain wedding band, at least 20 metric tons of rock or earth has to be moved, and highly poisonous mercury is used in the refining process. Entire stretches of the Amazon forest are being laid waste and the Peruvian government says there is little they can do to stop it. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports.

Amazon Road: Brazil Nuts
All Things Considered, Wednesday, September 16
Most of the people in the town of Alerta near the Brazilian border live off the forest, either engaged in illegal logging or involved in the 100-year-old tradition of Brazil nut harvesting. Brazil nuts grow on huge trees in the forest and are gathered by hand. Conservationists say it's an eco-friendly way to take advantage of the rainforest's bounty. But Brazil nut areas are being threatened by poor farmers who slash and burn to grow crops, and by illegal logging. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports.

Amazon Road: A Rainforest Ark
All Things Considered, Thursday, September 17
Peru’s rainforest is one of the most biodiverse in the world. Environmentalists say that as population grows globally and climate change affects habitat, more and more species are becoming extinct. Because of this, important places on the planet need to be protected to act as a kind of Noah's ark. The Peruvian Amazon is one such place. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports on conservation groups there that are coming up with innovative new ways to protect it.

Hear All Things Considered every weekday, 4 - 6:30 p.m. on WGVU FM 88.5/95.3.

NOVA Uncovers The Secret Life of Scientists

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:52:00 +0000

This September, NOVA launches a brand-new web-only series, The Secret Life of Scientists, highlighting two science and engineering stars every month. In a selection of three to six short, punchy films, each person describes his or her passions both within and outside of science. The site will also include opportunities to interact directly with the scientists through “questions & answers,” sharing stories and bonus video that digs deep into each scientist’s work and life to reveal more about who these thinkers are as people.

Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Secret Life of Scientists will highlight a total of 32 scientists and engineers over the next two years. Mark Siddall will be the first scientist featured on the site. A biologist who’s often off in exotic locations studying leeches, Siddall is also a culinary adventurer whose passion outside of science is cooking, and whether he’s in the swamps of Tanzania or on the coast of New Brunswick, he seeks out unique, native ingredients such as Irish moss, a red seaweed, to flavor his dishes. And yes, he’s tried leeches, too.

The Secret Life of Scientists is a spin-off from the successful on-air scientist profiles on NOVA’s summer science series NOVA scienceNOW on PBS and the popular “Ask the Expert” web feature that complements the broadcast. “We’ve gotten great feedback from viewers about the scientists we profile on television, so we’re thrilled to continue to share the personal and professional lives of scientists on the web,” said Senior Executive Producer of NOVA and NOVA scienceNOW Paula S. Apsell. “The scientists and engineers featured in the web-only series are incredibly passionate people, doing extremely important work, and their enthusiasm extends beyond the lab, into their personal lives and hobbies. We hope people of all ages connect with science on a new level and get inspired and excited by seeing scientists in a way they’ve never seen them before.”

For Siddall, science and cooking are both about the joy of discovery. “Cooking and preparing food comes from deep inside, and for me it’s a creative outlet,” he remarks. In addition to this culinary “leech man,” the online series will highlight Gavin Schmidt, a climate scientist who’s an avid juggler; engineer Nate Ball, who’s not only host of Design Squad on PBS but also a champion pole-vaulter and enjoys free running, an extreme form of acrobatics; and physicist Joe DeGeorge, who plays in a cult band called “Harry and the Potters.”

Music from '50s through '70s returns to the airways with WGVU-AM move to oldies format

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:57:00 +0000

by Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- WGVU AM is answering more than a few West Michigan prayers with newly announced radio station, Real Oldies 1480/850.

The all-oldies NPR radio station, playing local to national hits from the mid-'50s to early '70s, will be hosted by former WFGR-FM (98.7) personality Len O'Kelly and Bill Bailey, formerly of WLHT.

The announcement comes on the heels of WFGR changing its format from Oldies to Classic Hits -- a maneuver that displeased many loyal oldies listeners in the area.

"It's our hope that through public support that (oldies music) doesn't get taken away again," O'Kelly said.

The format was abandoned in 2004 with WODJ and again recently with WFGR.

"Our hope is third time's a charm," O'Kelly said.

Read the full story HERE.

Hey You Guuuyyysss! The Electric Company goes to Five Days a Week

noreply@blogger.com (WGVU TV and Radio) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Get out your circuit breakers as The Electric Company turns into a power strip! Starting September 7, Sesame Workshop's hit program The Electric Company will be charging up PBS KIDS GO! with a daily dose of literacy superheroes and wily pranksters. Six-to-nine-year-olds will be able to tune in every day to see Hector, Jessica, Lisa and Keith outwit their scheming neighborhood prankster-counterparts in a way that reinforces strong literacy skills and teaches kids that reading isn't just for school - reading is cool.

“Reading and writing are critical developmental areas for children and children who are struggling with literacy skills by second grade are often at risk for never being able to catch up,” said Linda Simensky, VP, Children’s Programming, PBS. “By offering The Electric Company every weekday on PBS KIDS GO!, we are opening the doors for more children to explore reading and just how much fun it can be.”

Kids are plugged into The Electric Company making it the #1 show on PBS KIDS GO! in its block—and the current doesn’t stop there. The show’s hit website, pbskidsgo.org/electriccompany, has had nearly four million site visits and over 11 million Electric Company video clips played since its launch in mid-January 2009.

You can see The Electric Company every weekday at 5 p.m. on WGVU TV, starting Tuesday, September 8.